Fallout 4: Instant 100% settlement happiness trick. No mods.

[@dwarf_nz483]

I don't know how many years now that I have been playing this game, and I am still learning new things. This is a really cool and easy trick to employ. Thank you for sharing.

[@OctumLXV]

Hey there, I feel the same. Every once in a while I run across something and am like, wait, what? lol. Ever since I figured this one out I've been using it where ever it works. Even at sites already built, you can bring the cats in and you'll see the happiness start to move up and looks better than having a bunch of bars all over.

[@Testsubject276]

Saving this video for whenever I get around to building starlight

[@OctumLXV]

Sweet, you'll have to let me know how it goes. I'll be around, whenever, lol. Thanks for commenting, much appreciated.

[@helgan35]

been playing this since release and I'm still learning new things! thank you so much for this :D

[@OctumLXV]

Been playing it since getting it in 2018 and same, still running across something I didn't know before. That's what keeps it interesting. Thanks for commenting, much appreciated!

[@1ClusterChuck]

Another cool version of getting 100%. This has to be about the quickest ever and I've done some quick ones myself. 😁 I'll add 1 thing about the Cats, If you're putting bowls out for them, You have to 'build' the cat bowls not use the junk ones, That way they'll go to them like a Doghouse/Dog or Brahmin/Trough

[@OctumLXV]

Hey there, and quick is right. The first time I had it happen I did a double-take. I had decided to change companions so I took Curie to the solo base I'd made, dismissed her there and immediately jumped into workshop mode to assign her to food. So just like here, I saw that 100 pop up. I thought either the game was tripping or I was, lol. To the cat bowls, I didn't know that. They're in the build menu so I just always build them anyway. I'm usually in the middle of a good-sized settlement build at that point so I'm not gonna go out and try finding some, lol. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate that!

[@SrChr778]

Okay, so if I'm hearing this right, they key things to do are: -No Robots -Capture some cats -Install some workout furniture -And of course, enough Water, Food, and Defenses. But you know, the cat part I never knew this whole time. I didn't think they'd have anything to do with Happiness level. Well, in real life, that's actually a fact, but I never knew it was an in-game mechanic. I'll keep that in mind.

[@OctumLXV]

That's about it, yep. Robot's, specifically the Mr. Handy's, every time I had Codsworth or Prof. Goodfeels around the happiness tanked out. And the workout equipment has a happiness boost of +2 while the cat's are a +10 (according to the Fallout Wiki) though I thought it was only +5. If you meet all the basic settlement requirements, that will top at +80. So when you add that boost from the cat's and whatever extra's you happen to throw in it's like front loading the settlement with a Legendary effect that triggers when a settler joins. And it is that cat's that provide the magic, lol.

[@TangoandCaps]

Don forget the Gorillas, there one of the biggest happiness boosts in the game 👍

[@wilomica]

@@OctumLXV Robots cap the happiness at 50%. So even one in a settlement and you cannot get the achievement.

[@next-genshadow85]

@@wilomica Damn, really? I am playing a new game with console command and made like 15 robots to guard Sanctuary lmaooo

[@GameTownWalk-thru]

I’m so glad you gave me the recipe early so Pussy Town was able to be my happiest build!!! 5:58 that was the best part!!!💕 Dogmeat has his teddy!

[@OctumLXV]

Hey, hey, and thank you for testing this for me! And yeah, Dogmeat playing with his teddy was a nice catch. Got lucky there, lol.

[@wolfen210959]

Been playing this game for 8 years and I've always done it differently, but this will be my new mechanic moving forward, nice job. :) Previously I'd always made a small setlement, with just 3 settlers, 1 farmer, 1 Doctor, 1 Barman, plus the exercise equipment, but that requires a much higher level and specific perks.

[@OctumLXV]

I hear ya, I've only been at it for about 6 yrs and, until I had this happen, I had standard elements that I would set up as a quick and easy and then be off to the next, lol. Now, I pretty much use cats in all my settlements. Even though there is no instant jump, when you put the cats into an already settled settlement, Graygardens excluded, you will begin to see the happiness rise. Given that building settlements is now my full time, those cats to me are magic, lol. And thank you for commenting, very much appreciated!

[@Rook_Lone_Dragon]

That’s definitely a unique way to get benevolent leader. Typically I wait until level 14 to get the trophy,put down a tier 3 bar and 6 mutfruit trees.have 2 settlers 1 on food and 1 on bar. 100 defense,3 water pumps and 2 beds inside a shelter. This way is really different,tho I kinda like it. 😎 Thanks for sharing a very unusual way to get that trophy.

[@OctumLXV]

Hello, and thanks for commenting, I appreciate that. One word can sum up the way I attacked the happiness quotient which I applied at every settlement. Overkill. Not in regard to vendors, but to resources and defense. Typically I would push the defense up to and or past 300. Water between 50-100. Power the same, usually for laser turrets. Food was dependent upon how many npc's I needed to find work for. That formula got me the BL achievement from a settlement I hadn't been to in weeks in-game. I've started to tone that down lately but it's ingrained at this point, lol. Since I discovered the magic of the cats I pretty much put cats into all of my settlements. I think all of the settlements in my Wasteland build series have at least 5-6 cats in them, along with guard dogs at several. I love me my cats and dogs!

[@NorseGraphic]

Nice! I’ve been playing Fallout 4 since launch, and never gave much thought catching cats. One thing I worried about was if they counted as people, thus reducing how many humans you could have. But cats doesn’t count, like robots (or even Bhramin). When it comes to happiness, I managed to get Finch Farm at 100% happiness. I added the usual stuff (weight bench, saddle bench), but added the slot machines (with focus on rewarding the players). And that managed to get their happiness right up. With cats, it’ll be easier. I have some settlements at 63 (Abernathy), though it’s early game and no slot machines. Will see if adding a couple of cats will help.

[@OctumLXV]

Hey there, thanks, I appreciate ya'! I picked it up in 2018 but same for the cats. Never thought much about them till I went for the Trapper achievement. And yeah, when it fits the build I throw in slots as well for that boost. For those family farm sites, if you get in 4-6 cats along with other boost objects I can tell ya' you will see an upswing with their happiness. I got the Somerville build I just did up to 100% in like 2-3 wks, in-game time, doing that while I was there building. And just to add, unless an attack happens, causing damage or killing a settler or cat, the happiness stays at 100% for a very long time. I don't keep game runs around for long but I had one stay at 100% for 2 months of real time play and that was playing a little every day. Considering the time scale in-game that's a long time, lol. Really glad you found this helpful, and good building to ya'!

[@adarkerstormishere]

@2:43 Mutfruit is short for "mutated fruit". It's pronounced like mute-fruit, not mutt-fruit.

[@OctumLXV]

You are correct, it was late and I was slopping it.

[@Val_Killmore]

Thats how I read it(mute-fruit) first time playing the game and years later all I hear is youtubers saying it mutt fruit.

[@TangoandCaps]

But I have a mutt-fruit tree, You can tell because it has alot of 'bark' 🐶

[@next-genshadow85]

That made sense actually, when that volunteering guy at vault 88 said mute-fruit when I was planting, I was like "How did u say it?"

[@DigitalNomad.1]

Even though ive built whole towns and massive stuctures i always get the most enjoyment out of building a little Sanctuary starter base. Didn't know you could catch cats with the cages!

[@OctumLXV]

Hey there, buddy. And I agree, I really like doing a nice, tight, personal little base camp. And yep, you can catch cat's, lol. I only really messed with the cages when I was doing my achievement run. But I never had a reason to use them in a build till I was building a personal base at Sanctuary last year and imagined Curie being a cat lady, lol. The result was what I replicated here.

[@YABBAHEY1]

Sorry, too jaded to care at this point. "A settlement is being attacked !" Well, tough shit, I'm building sumpfin on the opposite side of the map & if the 86 rocket turrets atop a concrete barricade surrounding the luxurious apartments I built by collecting cans for a year don't give them a chance then I'm convinced. The settlers are truly against me. Or life in general. Seriously you should see the masterpieces I've built over two years on the same save (PS4) Some days : 84Happiness, others 97.(no reason) Then when their "savior" shows up & opens const. mode it immediately goes down......"K, fine. Soon as I'm done w/this little touch of class, I'm never coming back." "That's how you feel.." "Be sure to send any Deathclaws I see your way.." "Yes I've been gone a while, you don't have enough beds,...um, let's talk this through." "12 people living here, 28 beds each w/in suite full baths, designer lighting, carpeting, plush furnishings & art demodern'e & you by committee conclude there's not enough to go around & if I don't rectify this mass hallucination your threatening to move back out w/the ghouls & raiders, that sums it up ?" (Clicks Const. Mode) "Oh, would you look at that ! Plenty for everyone, wadda surprise." "Huh ? no response ?" "I'm going back to Skyrim, see you dinguses in the funny papers"

[@OctumLXV]

I feel ya'. There always seems to be a settlement that just never wants to be happy no matter what you do. Doesn't help that the whole bed/sleep mechanic is a glitchy pain. If the site is just for the build, I shrug and move on and call that my pissy settlement, lol.

[@YABBAHEY1]

@@OctumLXV Ever figure out how to get Gray Gardens above 83 ? I only put a few settlers there, but nothing works. Frigg'n robot Zsa-zsa Gabor's never happy

[@OctumLXV]

@@YABBAHEY1 I think it actually impossible to get Graygarden to 100% because of the Mr. Handy robots. Each one is capped at 50% happiness and there's, what, 6 of them there? You pretty much can't overcome that deficit. That 83 is about the basic average base happiness for a human settler in a basic settlement setup, with all the basic requirements met. About as high as I've ever seen some of my builds there get. That's why I say you can't have any Mr. Handy robots around to do this trick, even Codsworth, who isn't supposed to effect happiness as the others do, but in this case does. Their happiness level cap just tanks any attempts. The only reason I could with Codsworth around at Sanctuary is because he's in effect on pause ingame until I go talk to him again. Which I'm not going to do, lol.

[@YABBAHEY1]

@@OctumLXV It's like Bethesda has some vague underlying distaste for fans of their media. Love to work as one of their quality control testers; lay on the beach, complain the shrimp cocktail doesn't have enough horseradish, rent the most expensive car on the lot, sleep til noon,...so on/so forth until it's time to return & say what ever they tell me to say at launch. Any hoo, Thnx 4 the Cat trick, think I'll probably catch 50 in my own subtle perverse private protest. 3FPS doesn't scare me.😺

[@TangoandCaps]

Cool vid 👍 ive got several settlements with 100% happiness without even trying. Its cats,dogs,bars,weight benches and.......'Gorillas ' 🦍 The only settlements I've had 100% happiness with are ones i have Gorillas at. The last one was an animal sanctuary that didnt even have a bar, weight benches, fruit machine or vault tech drink dispenser, just 2 settlers assigned to farming and a clinic. God knows how people got the benevolent leader trophy without DLC's especially as the trophy says " get 100% happiness in any 'large' settlement " 🤔

[@OctumLXV]

Hey there, and thanks for commenting. As to the Gorillas, while your right that they have a higher happiness buff, you can't get them until after you've completed the main quest and evacuated the Institute. The cat's, and dogs, you can get right at the start of the game. (as long as you have Wasteland Workshop for the cages of course). I believe I got the trophy with just built up defense, power and water in combo with high luck, Intel. and charisma, lol. And yeah, 'large' I see as more of a misnomer because it can be popped no matter the number of settlers on site.

[@TangoandCaps]

@OctumLXV well done for getting the trophy vanilla style, if I hadn't got the trophy by accident I probably would never have got it. I knew charisma had something to do with it but i didn't know that intelligence and luck played its part , nice one 👍 Lately I've been building raider settlements and trying to get them to 100% but with no luck, highest I got was 92% and that was by accident because most of them are unemployed, there's no food ,dogs,cats or gambling machines/drink dispensers and half the amount of beds and water. Only a bar ,weight bench and raider drug vending machine. Compared to other settlements where I met all requirements(excluding food, that comes from vessels) lots of cats, dogs and bars etc, I still only got to 80%. It's a real head scratcher 🤔

[@OctumLXV]

@@TangoandCaps Thank you, and yeah, it's hard to figure out sometimes. I just go in and play it by ear because each one has it's own tweak you gotta play around with. Raiders I only did full scale once, to get the trophy's. Like Hostile Takeover where you have to set up 8 raider camps, and I have no idea how up their happiness got. Just used them then went back to an older save from before I got them, lol. All I can say is good luck, lol. Oh, and not sure how much Intel. has to do with the happiness mechanic but the NPC's have a more positive view to it and couple in a high luck that swings a higher percentage of a positive outcome to encounters, etc., it all seems to lend to that happiness going up. For me. So I just go with it, lol.

[@TangoandCaps]

@OctumLXV The reason I started this raider boss build in the first place is to get those damn trophies lol. And when it comes to the 100% happiness raider build, I will 'endeavour to persevere '......or something like that 😂 👍

[@EricMcCoy]

So will this work without building a beacon? For example if I clear out hangman’s alley, set 6 cages with some defenses and workout stuff, go back in a week, let the cats out then go to another settlement where I have settlers then send one to hangman’s alley?

[@OctumLXV]

Good question, I've never tried it. The way I do my settlements I don't send anybody anywhere so I haven't considered it. It would be interesting if it works though, give it a shot and see if it works.

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

Nice strat.

[@OctumLXV]

Thank ya', I 'preciate!

[@wilomica]

I did it different but similar. The trick is to keep the population low long enough. So yeah you cannot add in the Quincy refugees.

[@OctumLXV]

Yeah, that makes sense. Fits with the testing I've done. Never thought of the number of ppl coming in cause Sanctuary is the only site where a large group comes in at once. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate that.

[@brianmcmeat1306]

That must have taken a while to get the soft shell mirelurk meat?

[@OctumLXV]

It took me no time actually. I'm on PC and used Console Command for the resources. I would have had to lvl up more and the point of starting out of the vault was to show there were no lvl or perk requirements to do the trick. I had a longer video showing how I short-cut the build but all the extras bogged down the main point so I had to redo it. If I had more time I would have run the character though the grind but, I'm in the middle of a pretty big modded build at County Crossing on a different run, so I'm in a time crunch right now and jumping back and forth between the 2 would have sucked, lol.

[@next-genshadow85]

Just some wild thoughts, how the hell did cats not mutated into something for over 200 years in a fallout environment? Is there a specific vaults to contain cats and dogs?

[@scottjohnston3098]

Quick question, how do you afford the defense and materials for so early in the game without using command line to give yourself things?

[@OctumLXV]

I'm on PC and did use Console Command to get the build done. I had a longer video going through the short cuts I used to make the build but it bogged the beginning down so I cut it down to focus on the main point of the trick itself and exemplify there were no lvl or perk requirements to get the traps or other pieces involved, ...,

[@shmaxo]

Will it work with a junkyard dog and five cats? I tend to get dogs first because they give happiness and add to protection.

[@OctumLXV]

I've only added dogs after the fact but yeah, that should be fine to do since the dogs do have a happiness bonus as well.

[@gcqsopus]

Where did you get the softshell mirelurk meat?

[@darrenhughes9186]

Best bet is buying it and mirelurk hunting its not easy to get hold of like other meats. And collect wild fruit as you will need them for bigger traps later in the game.

[@gcqsopus]

@@darrenhughes9186Thank you!

[@OctumLXV]

I've never tried buying the meat but if you go hunting there are several areas along the Northern areas of the map you can run across mirelurk as well as along the western side, like the reservoir area between Wicked Shipping and Sunshine Tidings Co-op.

[@ryuzakikun96]

I just put tons of workout furniture and cats

[@OctumLXV]

When in doubt, overkill works.